Cricket
IND vs BAN Predicted XI, Super 8: Should India drop Shivam Dube?
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An unbeaten India will take on a faltering Bangladesh in the Super Eights clash of the T20 World Cup in Antigua on Saturday. The overall head-to-head record is overwhelmingly in India’s favour, but Bangladesh are known to be plucky, and Rohit Sharma and his men would be wary of that. The Men in Blue performed professionally against Afghanistan in their opening Super Eights match. With only a travel day separating their remaining two games, they would be hoping that the players who have not performed as per expectations so far, deliver the goods. Top of that list would be the opening pair of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom have got starts but have been unable to turn them into defining knocks.
Another under-pressure team member is left-hander Shivam Dube, who was picked in the World Cup squad to hammer sixes in the middle and death overs. However, the IPL form that helped him seal a World Cup berth has deserted him, and he is yet to come to the party. The South Paw made an unbeaten 31 against the USA in a group league game, but Suryakumar Yadav’s effort ultimately made the difference. Another failure might force the team management to consider Sanju Samson in the middle order. The biggest positive in the batting department in the Afghanistan game was Hardik Pandya’s cameo. The all-rounder is known for his brutal hitting, and that was on display on Thursday. On the bowling front, India is expected to retain the combination, having given the first opportunity of the tournament to crafty left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
TIME TO DROP DUBE?
Shivam Dube’s scores in the ongoing ICC tournament are 0*, 3, 31 and 10. The left-handed batter was supposed to make a difference against spin-heavy Afghanistan, but he failed to make any impact. Despite consistent performances in the IPL over the past three seasons, Dube’s ongoing struggles against pacers and his lack of effective footwork, particularly against spin, have been glaringly apparent. His batting style, which heavily relies on free swings of the bat, has been ill-suited to the current World Cup pitches, where the ball tends to hold up.
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Dube’s limitations extend beyond his batting technique. He lacks the finesse to play delicate touches and work the ball into gaps, essential skills on these challenging pitches. Furthermore, his running between the wickets has been less than exemplary, adding to India’s middle-order woes.
BRING BACK SANJU?
The question on everyone’s mind is whether India will make a bold move and replace Dube with Sanju Samson. Samson’s versatility as a floater who can bat effectively at any position in the middle order makes him an attractive option. With Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel already providing left-handed batting options, India have the flexibility to consider a tactical shift. Furthermore, Sanju Samson’s well-rounded batting skills pose a greater threat to both spinners and pacers. His power-hitting ability is a valuable asset on pitches where boundaries are difficult to come by.
IND vs BAN Predicted Playing XIs
India Predicted XI: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav
Bangladesh Predicted XI: Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Litton Das (WK), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
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